HERE we go. We’re beginning the lead-up to the next state election. While the announcement of Danielle Slade as Labor’s candidate was welcomed in the community – especially by what appears on first superficial glance to be from younger constituents – my belief is there is much more for her to do between now and the election.
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In the previous 2015 state election the Labor candidate was a police officer by the name of Simon Tayler. He was a young father and a family man. He and his wife Michelle had jobs in the community which enabled him to see deeply the needs of the community.
In the rather different electorate of Mount Isa, KAP’s Rob Katter won with 46.77 per cent of the vote. LNP’s John Wharton – mayor of Richmond – had 29.09 per cent. Mr Tayler was at 18.15 per cent in the Mount Isa electorate.
I will repeat that. Labor had 18.15 per cent of the vote in the last election. Not every constituent follows the news or even keeps track of who their candidates are. My understanding was that Mr Tayler did not stand out enough to voters.
In the last election I was naive enough to believe Mr Katter would fall. By the end I thought it was Mr Wharton who had what it took. It did not happen but the reason for my view was having not listened to the constituents, especially those in the 20s, and only the local leaders and those in positions of authority. Mr Katter has a strong support base from all voting ages, and that’s just for being a Katter and by having what appears as a humble and sincere persona, sticking it up to the government. There’s a novelty for the transient to vote for a Katter too.
Mrs Slade has an extraordinary amount of ground to gain in comparison to her predecessor. That is not to say it cannot be done, or will not be done, but Labor’s new candidate is going to have to work hard to break into Charters Towers territory. This is not written in the spirit of discrediting someone who clearly is well respected by those who knows her, and seems to have a solid support base. Yet I feel a need to reiterate what she and her local party members likely already knows. I’m keen to be proven wrong.
-Chris Burns, senior journalist
